We're covered up with seeds from the recent Garden.org group seed swap, and it's time to go crazy with winter sowing! Come join in our excitement as we talk about this exciting and easy seed starting technique.
I thought the podcast was terrific! But there is one thing I think you forgot to mention. If you are wintersowing perennials you may not get any germination the first Spring. Or you may only get a couple of seedlings. Don't throw the container away! Leave it outside. You may just find that the next Spring you have (more) seedlings!
When I set out my jugs this year I found one from last year with nine seedlings! I believe they are blue-eyed grass. I planted 10 seeds and only one germinated last Spring. Now I have the rest of them! I think the reason they germinated in the winter is because our temperatures have been quite Spring-like for long stretches.
That's a great point, Elena- thanks!
Of course, in my climate, anything in a container must be watered 1-3 times per day during the summer....which is not as likely to make it. Those cute seeds need to burst forth that first year for greatest chance of survival!!
We had a drought last year so my containers dried out since they were the lowest priority. It's only been since late Fall that they have gotten lots of rain. I was shocked the seeds germinated!
I think we forget that seeds are a lot hardier than we give them credit for. They can wait out lousy conditions until everything is perfect.
Believe me, containers are first a rare breed on our farm, and second, always in grave danger after June each year! My citrus trees are the top priority...everything else may or may not survive depending on the year.
As much as I admire beautiful containers, I must admire them from afar.
